Doctors took the decision to induce the coma after the 28-year-old had been struck on the helmet by a piece of debris from the back of Rubens Barrichello’s car as he was travelling at around 170mph at the Hungaroring.

The Brazilian careered straight into a tyre wall and was airlifted to the AEK hospital in Budapest, conscious but with a severe gash above his left eye.

He had sustained a fractured skull and concussion for which doctors immediately performed surgery and afterwards Ferrari released a statement saying: “The outcome of the procedure was positive. Now Felipe will remain under observation in intensive care.” The team added that they would issue an update on his condition this morning.

The hospital’s medical director Peter Bazso caused alarm when he later announced that Massa’s condition was “life-threatening” but Ferrari denied this and FIA doctor Gary Hartstein moved swiftly to allay fears by explaining that he would be taken out of the coma prior to a brain scan at 10am on Sunday.

Massa’s wife, Rafaela, who is five months pregnant with their first child, and his parents Luiz Antonio and Ana Elena were flying from Brazil to Hungary to be by his side on Saturday night with his personal doctor Dino Altmann.

The incident comes less than a week after Henry Surtees suffered a fatal accident after being hit by a loose wheel in a Formula Two race at Brands Hatch.

The accident completely overshadowed a chaotic session in which championship leader Jenson Button’s title chances suffered a further blow as he could only qualify his Brawn in eighth position. Fernando Alonso took pole position. Sebastien Vettel is second on the grid.

Ecclestone who arrived at the hospital on Saturday night said: “It’s not nice. I thought we’d seen the last of this sort of thing. Professor Watkins will look at it and we will deal with it straight away.

“It’s a worrying time. It’s not good that’s for sure. The doctors are happy that he is stable though. I will return tomorrow.”